William Yabsley . British Army Royal Engineers My Grandad, Bill Yabsley, was a POW at Stalag XXA from 1941-1942. He was captured at Dunkirk and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner. He has lots of stories to tell, particularly one where he helped to save the lives of two Jewish girls; Magda and Suzanne Hersgovitch. Grandad is now 93 and frequently talks about his experiences as a POW. We would love to hear from anyone who can remember him, particularly Bill Ackland.
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John Yaccarine . United States Army 4th Inf. Signals Co. I was with the 4th Inf Signal Co. We were in Quansett huts on the edge of town before Tiverton was overrun with GIs. Got to know the family of a woodcutter, who would come back towing a tree trunk. The family treated me great but I lost track of them and now can no longer remember their name. They had an attractive red-haired daughter. I was in awe of the spirit of the English people with all they had to go through. The frequent bombings in Exeter and the `business as usual' effort of the people impressed me. I don't remember Tiverton being as large as it apparently now is. I sent my mom a bottle of Devonshire Violet perfume and she had me send her more. She continued to use until she died. I have pleasant memories of fish and chips wrapped in newspapers, bean sandwiches and some wonderful people.
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Henry Yalden . British Army Royal Artillery from Wimbledon My father Harry Yalden was sent to France to fight the Germans who were moving in from Belguim in 1940. He was part of the Artillery Regiment. They fought on the beaches of Dunkirk until they ran out of ammo. They were captured and sent on a death march to Poland were he was a prisoner of war for 5 years at Stalag xxb his number was 14 on the records. He later escaped with others and was found by Americans hiding out in a barn. If anybody has any information a family mentioning him, records of him I would very much appreciate it. He died in 1986 and would never talk about his ordeal when he was alive. My Dad was a little guy 5ft 4in reddish blond hair blues eyes and stocky and a jokester who loved to draw.
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Pte. William Henry Yale . British Army 9th battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry from Sheffield, Yorkshire (d.7th September 1944)
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Trpr Lucas Yanez . British Army from Merthyr Tydfil (d.9th June 1945) Lucas died in Athens in June 1945. He lies in the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Phaleron Athens,plot. A.5.A.
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Ronald James Yanko . Royal Canadian Air Force 428 Squadron from Regina, SK, Canada
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Audrey Patricia Elsie Yard . Womens Land Army from Rose Cottage, Warmwell, Dorchester, Dorset I am trying to find out any details of my late mother, Audrey Patricia Elsie Hodder (nee Yard) from Warmwell near Dorchester. I understand that she was stationed at a Farm in Blandford Forum or the surrounding area, not too far from her home.
She married my father - Charles Hodder and had eight children and in the late 1950's they moved to Manchester to be near one of her Aunties.
If you have any information, this would be gratefully received. Unfortunately my mother died in April 2008 after a long period in hospital and a nursing home. Towards the end of her life, she suffered from dementia and, as a lot of stories on this website, her memory was lively and colourful - but very unreliable
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TH Yare . British Army TH Yare served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Pvt. George Yaros . US Army 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne from Gary, IN, USA George Yaros was held as a POW at Stalag IIA from 12/20/1944
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Pvt. George Yaros . United States Army 506th Parachute Infantry 101st Airborne from Gary, Lake Co., IN George Yaros served with the 506th Parachute Infantry, he was captured during the Battle of the Bulge on 20th of December 1944 and held in Stalag 2A. He was Repatriated on the 25th of July 1945.
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Sto 1st Cl Bernard Albert Yarrow . Royal Navy HMS Berwick from 35 Round Hill Way, Westborough,Guildford Stoker first class Bernard Yarrow served in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Berwick in WW2.
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Lt. Colin Drake Yarrow . British Army My dad Colin Yarrow was a Lieutenant, I know his platoon was at Motte de Bois. The Buffs were to his side. I have always presumed his right. They were attacked from behind. He was badly wounded, shot through the neck and shoulder. Survived due to good German medical care and was a POW for 5 Years.
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Cpl. Norman "Silver" Yarrow . Royal Air Force 78 Squadron from Darlington My father, Norman Yarrow, was employed in the Locomotive works in Darlington. Shortly after the outbreak of war he volunteered to join the R.A.F. His basic training took place in Blackpool and then he was trained as a Flight mechanic.
He was posted to 76 Squadron at R.A.F. Middleton St. George which was a newly constructed airfield. 76 Squadron were the first to operate from this station. Shortly after opening, 76 Squadron was joined by 78 Squadron at Middleton. (Also known locally as Goosepool)
As he was fortunate enough to live in Darlington, only five miles from the airfield he was granted an S.O.P. (sleeping out pass) On some occasions, in school holidays, I would ride along with him on the morning trip to “work.” I was nine years old at that time. I took sandwiches and spent a large part of the day sitting on the fence beside the railway lines which formed the airfield boundary. I was about 25 yards from a dispersal point and watched all the activity. On my many vigils I watched the “Erks” doing routine maintenance, armourers bombing up and fitting ammunition belts, I knew that this indicated that the squadron would be operating that night. Later on when I was at home in bed I could hear the aircraft taking off and circling before setting course for the target of that nights raid.
I remember that there always seemed to be plenty of activity during the day. I particularly liked to watch the aircraft after an air test when they approached the main runway, they flew directly over my head and seemed very low. I recall one occasion when an Oxford from some other airfield collided in mid air with one of the 76 Squadron aircraft doing “circuits and bumps.” Some of the wreckage fell at the far side of the airfield closer to the River Tees. There were no survivors!
I did return to Middleton St. George some years later when, as a Cadet I was taught to fly in a Kirby Cadet. It is now a civilian airport and I have used it to fly to a holiday destination. I still remember the Halifaxes though!
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EG Yarwood . British Army Royal Armoured Corps EG Yarwood served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Pte Jack William Yates . British Army Northamptonshire Regiment from Leicestershire I remember Jack Yates telling me he was a dispatch rider and he had a middle finger shot off, I think in Sicily.
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Sgt. James Derek Yates . Royal Air Force No.20 Initial Training Wing from Staffordshire Derek Yates was my Grandfather and whilst training at RAF Usworth he met my Grandma, Elsie Wallace from Sunderland on an evening out pass. She and her friend were taking shelter from the rain in a shop doorway when they decided to make a run for it.
My grandmother stepped out first, but as she did she tripped up two passing RAF Sergeants in uniform sending one of them (my grandfather) to the floor in the wet wearing his best dress uniform! He got up cursing as you can imagine but was soon cut short by the steely eyed glare from my Grandma over his choice of language.
This turned out to be the start of their journey! My grandparents were happily married for 30 years settling eventually in a coal mining village called Blidworth in Nottinghamshire where Derek returned to the coal mines after the RAF as a Mechanical Engineer until sadly he passed in October 1978 from a heart attack. Elsie continued to raise me until she passed in 1991.
By the time of my Granddad's passing though I had been privileged to have grown up to the age of 10 listening to their stories and adventures during the War and service in the RAF. This had made such an inspirational impression that at 17 I enlisted and served for 20 years myself in memory of Granddad Derek Yates (Sgt) Royal Air Force.
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Pte. James Yates . British Army 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment from St. Helens (d.6th December 1944)
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Pte. John Yates . British Army Royal Army Service Corps from Blackburn John Yates served with the RASC.
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Spr. Joseph Yates . British Army 1018 Docks Operating Company Royal Engineers from Jarrow (d.17th Jun 1943) Joseph Yates died aged 22, he was the son of Richard and Rachel A. Yates of Jarrow. He is remembered on the Brookwood Memorialand is commemorated on the WW2 Roll of Honour Plaque in the entrance of Jarrow Town Hall.
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Pte. Norm Yates . Australian Army 2/2nd Field Ambulance My father, Norm Yates, was held at Stalag 8b (Lamsdorf) after being captured on Crete. He was a private in 2/2nd Field Ambulance in the Australian Army. He was later in the prisoner exchange. Does anyone remember him?
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Sgt. Robert Yates . British Army from Haslingden Bob Yates served in Malta 1939-1944 then in Italy
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Stan Yates . Royal Air Force Sqdn 2816 RAF Catterick I served in Sqdn 2816 at Catterick Camp in 1940. Does anyone remember an explosion there at the railway station round that time?
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Sgt William Steven Yates . 428 Sqd.
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Able Sea. Cyril Yaxley . Royal Navy HMS Athene Cyril Yaxley was my grandad, he wrote a short story of his time on HMS Athene regarding an incident passing up 4.5 shells when one fell down at his feet with fellow seaman Harold.
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N Yeadon . British Army 6th Airborne Armoured Regiment Reconnaissance Corps N Yeadon served with the 6th Airborne Armoured Regiment Reconnaissance Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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L/Cpl. Alan Ernest Yealands . New Zealand Corps of Signals from Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand (d.22nd February 1943) Lance Corporal Yealands was the Son of Ernest Yealands and of Violet Yealands (nee Maurice), of Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand. Alternative Commemoration - buried in Esiomoheofo, Eua Island.
He was 24 and is buried in Esiomoheofo, Eua Island. Also commemorated with a Special Memorial headstone at Telekava European Cemetery, Nuku'alofa. Toga.
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Gnr. Frank Yearing . British Army 2nd Search Light Regiment, 8th Bty. Royal Artillery from Grimsby (d.25th May 1940)
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Earl Yearout . US Army 88th Infantry Regiment I served in the 88th in Italy.
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Pte. Ernest Edgar Yeates . British Army 8th Battlion King's Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment from Winchester (d.28th May 1940)
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